Here are eight very powerful reasons why we should work towards the reunification of our lands under a sincere leadership:

1. Global Power

Political unification would almost instantly turn the Muslims into a global force to be reckoned with. Between the various countries of the Muslim world, it would offer an excellent option of collating individual strengths into a superior collective strength. Such a strong central Islamic government would control enough strategic geographical points and assets, such as waterways, ports, natural resources and industrial complexes, to withstand any foreign aggressor. Political unity would put an end to the 57 artificially created nation-states into a single mammoth political beast. Any attack on our Prophet ﷺ would see a swift response from the political giant.

2. Military Strength

Military unification would give the Muslims the world’s largest army. The ability of any nation to defend its borders from foreign threats is essential for its very existence. For a nation to be considered independent, protecting its territorial integrity is essential otherwise its very existence comes into question. A nation that is able to secure its territorial integrity can then focus on internal development and prosperity, not having to worry about external interference. As such, one of the greatest benefits of unification is a united military that would form the world’s largest and most comprehensive army. If the current 57 Muslim states across four continents were to combine under the banner of Islam they would effectively yield over 5 million active soldiers and one of the largest air force and navy. It will be a nuclear power with access to key strategic naval straits and airspace. The large landmass that comes naturally with reunification makes invasion by enemies extremely difficult.

3. Economic Might

Economic unification of the Muslim world can bring together brings the fertile agricultural lands and rich minerals of the Indian subcontinent to the rich fisheries of the Pacific rim to the energy resources in the Middle East and North Africa. This Muslim super-state can develop the necessary infrastructure utilising a workforce of over a billion people so that the entire Ummah can benefit. Currently, the Ummah with its great reserves of mineral resources labours in poverty. The cause being the inherent corruption and mismanagement in the ruling elite coupled with the aims of the colonialist powers. However, under a sincere Islamic government driven by divine economic principles and free from capitalism, the state would develop an economy that utilises the vast natural resources to guarantee the basic needs of its people and distribute wealth efficiently. The Islamic framework will prevent any individual or company to have a monopoly over basic utilities that are essential to the Ummah such as water sources and oil wells. It will prevent the privatisation of key utilities so that the people will not be exploited by the need to make a profit. Privatisation has led to increased prices of basic commodities which ensures the masses labour in poverty.

4. Eradicating poverty

Poverty in the simplest terms can be defined as a lack of basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter. When Islam was implemented on a state level in parts of the African continent (Ethiopia and Sudan), it slowly extinguished poverty. People had the basics of food, clothing and shelter provided to them and they had the opportunity to prosper as human beings. Since the removal of Islam from those lands and the subsequent division of people into nation-states, we still witness corruption and genocide. Through unification and implementation of the Islamic model, we would see mandatory institutions like zakat utilised to reduce and subsequently eradicate poverty. It will have at its disposal the rich resources of the unified Muslim lands and through the sincere management of the central Islamic government, it would distribute to the neediest members. Zakat and sadaqah cannot only help eradicate poverty but can also bring people closer — not only Muslims but even people of other faiths. Khalifah Umar Bin Al-Khattab once helped an old Jew from the Bait Al-Mal. Umar Bin Al-Khattab said: “If poverty were a man, I would have killed him.”

5. A single Judicial System

Through the political unification, we will have a single judicial system based on Islam. Currently, injustice and torture is all too apparent in Muslim countries where there exists a hybrid of man-made law and Shari’ah. The Islamic judicial system is far better than any system man has ever devised in history. The strict burden of proof needed means only the guilty and not the innocent are punished. The Islamic system allows a person aggrieved of a crime the right to forgive the accused or to demand compensation for certain crimes. A person has the right to take the ruler to court and even remove him if he transgresses against the Shari’ah. A person’s fate is not left to the whims and prejudices of fallible people, but in the hands of a qualified judge. In addition, Islamic punishments are executed without delay or hesitation and torture is prohibited and haram for any authority to practice.

6. Provision of Education

A central Islamic government would ensure the provision of education. A unified education system would be free to all citizens promoting the Arabic language. The central Islamic government would also endeavour to provide free education to everyone at a university level. This is because education is a necessity in all walks for every single citizen, male or female. The education levels in most of the Muslim lands is well below where it should be, literacy levels are some of the worst in the world. Many of the nations currently spend more on military equipment and debt repayments than education. This is why very little has been invented in the Muslim world in the last 100 years. Bringing the Muslim world’s key resource – people, and infusing them with Islamic culture and sciences will make the Muslim lands a centre of learning like it was in the past.

7. One Ummah

With unification comes the removal of colonialist borders and an effective end to nation states. No longer would it be required to obtain a visa to travel from one continent to another. These have numerous benefits in terms of economy, social and welfare. In terms of economics, the free movement of labour will mean the central Islamic government can deal with labour shortages in parts of the unified state. Socially, the free movement of labour can also help in reducing regional inequalities and raise the living standards in poorer parts. The welfare of the people can be protected by moving them to regions that are less prone to natural disasters.

8. New international system

Having a unified Islamic state with a central government means that the Muslims can speak with one voice. The world cannot ignore 1.6 billion people. It will have considerable soft power in its ability to make friends and influence people – not through military might, but through its most attractive assets notably Islamic culture, values, education and language. In short, through the physical implementation of Islam and promotion of its values, it will attract nations to it.